Northwest Reel Life January - February 2024 Volume 3 Issue 4 - Flipbook - Page 8
water while keeping
your gear within 5’ of the
bottom. I troll 2.5-about 3.5
mph for blackmouth and
all my blackmouth leaders
are tied on 42” of 30#
fluorocarbon.
Earlier I mentioned a
shore-based opportunity
to catch blackmouth. No
really, I’m not nuts. Well, OK
maybe I am a little nuts but
there are many piers and
boardwalks that are open to
salmon fishing year-round.
Study the WDFW Sport
Fishing Rules and check
the Emergency Rules as
they supersede the general
sport fishing rules. When
I was a kid, well before cell
phones and computers I
used to frequently fish the
piers
and caught a lot of
blackmouth. I didn’t chase
reports to fish a hot bite.
I had to put in the time
while experimenting my
way through the gear and
presentation until I caught
fish.
I usually carried two rods, a
dozen small herring (fresh
or frozen, back then fresh
herring was the norm), and
a small handful of gear.
My go-to rig was a level
wind steelhead rod rigged
with a large sliding float
and a hand-tied mooching
14 | NWFISHING.net
leader. I would nose hook
the herring, leaving the
trailing hook free, and
gently cast it off the down
current corner of the pier. I
would free spool, letting the
rig drift until I was down
the last few wraps of line on
the spool and then put it in
gear. Recovering a crank or
two every few minutes, it
would take forever to reset.
The process was deadly and
accounted for many salmon
dinners.
I also fished hardware. A
double hooked Colorado
spinner with a herring
strip will catch anything in
the sound. I’d rig them on
a 24-30” leader behind a
piece of pencil lead. Easypeazy; just cast, let sink
and slowly wind it back in.
Where most fish would
hammer it, salmon seemed
to cause the retrieve to
hesitate then go in for the
kill. The other method was
to use flutter spoons. This
was pre-buzzbomb/rotators
and involved casting heavy
spoons or Swedish Pimple
type lures and letting them
sink for a bit. The process
was similar to twitching
jigs, slowly lifting your rod
tip, and then picking up
a crank of two while you
quickly tower the rod.
Between the 3 methods,
most of my pier fishing
excursions were a success.
This should get you started
in your quest to extend
your local salmon fishing
opportunities while you
freeze your keister off. The
when, where, and how are
baselined but I suggest
choosing an area and
learning it. As a boater or
pier-ite, become the local
expert! Please remember
that our winter weather
can be unpredictable. Make
sure your boat is seaworthy,
full of fuel, fuel conditioner
and you are dressed for the
weather. A little upfront
planning will help to ensure
that you and your crew
have a safe and productive
blackmouth adventure.
locations
5 frozen treasure
eric magnuson
Washington State, known for its stunning landscapes and diverse outdoor activities,
offers a unique and thrilling experience for anglers during the winter months, Ice
Fishing. As the temperatures drop and the lakes freeze over, enthusiasts from all over
gather their gear and head to some of the state's most picturesque frozen waters. In this
article, we’ll dive into the icy wonderland of 5 lakes that stand out as prime destinations
for ice fishing in Washington: Curlew Lake, Bead Lake, Sacheen Lake, Banks Lake, and
Eloika Lake.
Curlew Lake
A Frozen Oasis In The Northeast
Curlew Lake, nestled more in
the Northcentral portion of the
state, transforms into a winter
wonderland, drawing anglers
seeking a tranquil ice fishing
experience. The lake spans over
900 acres and is surrounded
by snow-covered mountains
and hills, creating a beautiful
backdrop to your frozen
adventure.
The lake is home to a variety of
fish, with Rainbow Trout and
Yellow Perch being the most
sought-after during the winter
months. Anglers often set up
shanties or their ice fishing
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